Packing case or crate



Dec 25,1928. j 1,696,413

. w. w. RICE PACKING CASE OR CRATE Filed Jan. 1926 I 1 I I 1 '}li 4 u E. *1 2 l 5; 7: J I i I I l 1 2 l 6' (9 a? J J Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

warren srarss V 1,596,413 PATENT, OFFICE.

WAYLAND W. RICE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO IJ NITED STATES GUTTA PERCI'IA PAINT COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A COR- POBATION 0F RHODE ISLAND.

PACKING CASE OR CRATE.

Application filed January This invent-ion relates to improvements in packing cases or crates for use in shipping canned. goods, particularly cans containing relatively heavy liquids or fluids.

A. principal object of the invention lS fO provide a packing case or crate for holding a plurality of cans packed compactly, but separted from rubbing contact to prevent chafing and marring of the labels on their sides.

Another important object of the improve ment is .to provide separating and steadying ieans for the cans which act as struts to brace the top and bottom of the cases agamst the strain and load imposed in handling and stacking one case on another, so as to protect the cans from rupture and damage.

Another object ofthe invention, is to provide a packing case or crate of the type specified which, while being stronger and more efiicient for the purpose explained, 1S relatively simple in structure and economical to manufacture.

Further objectsof the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a perf'erred embodiment of the invention as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved packing case or crate,show1ng it with the cover removed to illustrate the arrangement of the cans contained, therein;

I Fig. 2 is asectional elevation of the same taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view taken on line 8-43 of Fig. 1.

My improved packing case or crate is designed particularly for shipping tin cans or similar containers filled with 1 relatively heavy fluids such as paint in dry, liquid or paste form, but it is also adapted for use with other type of containers for difierent kinds of commodities. the retail trade is usually packaged in cylindrical cans bearing suitable labels pasted or lithographed on their sides and the larger cans containing'quarts, half-gallons or more are relatively'heavy so that they res quire careful packing to prevent damage under'handlingi or in transit. If the cans are left relatively loose in the case they will strike against each other and become dented and their seams may be bulged and ruptured to cause leakage of the contents. Moreover,

Paint sold through 6, 1926. Serial No. 79,635.

the rubbing and chafing between the sides of the cans will tear or mar the labels thereon, rendering them unsightly and the merchandisetherein unsalable. For this reason it has sometimes been the practice to separate the cans in the case by cross partitions similar to those in an egg-crate. Such 'a separating means has not been found ontirely satisfactory, however, as the cans will still be subject to a sliding and turning movement which, if the partitions are not of the proper depth, causes the cans to be rubbed and chafed andv the labels thereon tornorma'rred- Moreover, the cross partitions increase the bulk and add to the cost of the case while also increasing the weight and thereby the cost of transportation.

Various other expedients' havebeen tried for, holding the cans in place in the case to prevent chafing therebetween and rupture of their seams, but heretofore none has been entirely satisfactory for the purpose intended; My present invention overcomes the abovementioned defects and deficienciesin previously used cases. through an arrangement of separators taking the form of struts extending from top'to bottom of the case between the cans packed therein.

- Referring to the drawings, I may employ the usual type of wooden box or case 2 composed of boards dovetailed, nailed or other wise fastened together. The case 2 may be of any suitable size and shape to accommodate thedesired number of cans, and as herein illustrated by way of example only, the case is designed to hold six cans 3 standing on their bottoms. The interior depth of the case issubstantially equal to the height of the cans, but to allow for the shrinkage of the wood and inaccuracies in manufacture a clearance must be providedbetween the top of the cans and the under side of the cover 4, see Figs. 2 and 3.

The interior length and width of the case 2 are proportioned to permit the cans 8 to be placed therein side by sidein rows in adjacent relation, but with a clearance be tween their sides. It will be noted by reference to Figs. 2 and 3 that the cans 3 have clearance between the edges of the flanges or heads 5, and my improved holding means or separating elements 6 are adapted to en-.

gage with the rims of the flanges 5 to prevent contact between the rims and bodies of the cans 3 when they ride up in the case.

For this purpose the separators 6 are constructed in the form of spool-shaped struts or braces compri ing longitudinal strips of wood 7 extending between enlarged blocks or heads 8. For the sake of economy in cost of IHZIDULEQCt-UIG the body strip 7 may be an ordinary wooden stick of square or rectangular cross-section and the heads 8 are also square as sawed from a wider strip; although if desired the shank or body 7 may be cylindrical and the heads 8 circular.

The heads 8 may be fastened to the ends of the stick 7 in any suitable manner, for in stance, by means of nails 9 as illustrated in Fig. 3. As a further modification in the structure of the separator tl e heads 8 might be held apart by a metal rod instead of the wooden stick 7. The length of the separator or strut 6 is made to coincide accurately with the interior depth of the box .or case 2. this being important in order that when the cover 4 is fastened in place it will rest against the top of the upper heads 8 to be supported and braced from the struts which function in the manner and for the purpose as hereinafter more fully explained.

hen bails are applied to the cans or' con tainers 3 to adapt them for use as pails, projecting ears 10 are provided on their sides for receiving the hooked ends of the wire handles. Preferably, the handles or bails are removed from the cans and shipped loose in the case, although they may remain in place on the cans without danger of their rubbing on adjacent cans since the sides of all the cans are held in spaced relation in the cases. The cans 3 are preferably placed in the case with the ears 10 arranged to abut one of the sides thereof as shown in Fig. 1, as they will thus have a tendency to hold the cans from turning to any considerable extent on their bottoms, thereby preventing the ears on one can from rubbing or chafing against the sides of an adjacent can.

As the cans 3 are placed the case 2 the struts or separators 6 are inserted between the adjacent rows as illustrated in Fi 1, with each separator acting as a spacing medium for a group of four adjacent cans. In the present illustration only two rows of three cans each are shown, but in other in stances there may be a greater number of rows and more cans in each row, the cases usually containing six of twelve cans or multiples thereof-f. t is to be patrticularly noted that the heads 8 of the separators 6 are of an exact width or breadth between their sides to adapt them to fit snugly between the edges of the rims or heads 5 at the top and bottom of the cans to hold the latter against the sides of the case with little or no play therebetween. The depth of thickness of the heads or blocks 8 is of ample dimensions to prevent the bottom flanges or heads 5 on the cans 3 from riding up over the lower heads. and since the top of the upper heads abut the under side of the cover a oi the case the top flanges 5 on the cans cannot ride thercover when the cans shift their position or slide longitudinally in the case. portant and results from the fact that the separators or struts 6 are continuous between the cover and bottom of the case.

Another advantage resulting from this arrangement, as before mentioned, is that This feature is most imthe separators 6 act to brace the cover and a bottom of the case to take the strain and load during handling or when the cases are stacked one on another. The top and bottom boards of the case are therefore prevented from springing or buckling to transmit the strain or load to the cans, and consequently the cans are-protected against rupture at their seams which would result in leakage of the contents and spillage and spoilage of the goods. Heretofore this has been a very serious matter inpacking and shipping canned goods. If the cans are allowed to chafe one on another as their end flanges ride up over the top of adjacent cans the labels are marred and their appearance spoiled while the cans themselves are apt to become dented and bruised. When a number of cases are piled or stacked one on another the considerable weight imposed on the bottom cases causes the covers to spring and sag and the load falls on the cans within the case. This frequently causes the sides of the cans to buckle or bulge and opens their seams so that the contents leak. The damaged cans are usually rejected by the consignee and this entails pecuniary loss to the consignor or manufacturer. With the present improved method of packing and staying or separating the cans in the case, while bracing the top and bottom thereof, the cans are held from rubbing contact on their sides; and still more important they are protected'from strain or stress in handling and stacking the cases so that they can not be damaged or broken open to spill their contents.

T Vhile I have herein illustrated and described the invention in its simplest form, it is obvious that the size and shape of the improved case may be varied and the structure and arrangement of the separating means therein modified without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims. I claim:

1. A packing case or crate for cans and other containers provided with spool-shaped struts having enlarged heads at their ends,

said struts extending between the-cover and bottom of the case and abutting thereagainst to brace the case, and arranged between the cans with their heads bearing against the rims thereof to hold the cans from rubbing contact on. their sides. i

2. As a new article of commerce, :1 paclo ing case or crate for cans and other containers provided with wooden struts extending between the top and bottom of the case and abutting thereagainst to brace the case, said struts having enlarged heads fastened to their ends to adapt them to bear against the top and bottom rims of the cans to hold them from riding or rubbing on their sides.

3. A packing case or crate for cans and other containers comprising a bottom, sides and cover, and loose seoarators constructed with central struts and enlarged heads at their ends to adapt them to be placed inthe case between thetop and bottom thereof to brace the'same with their heads disposed between the cans and bearing against the sides thereof toprevent them from riding on or rubbing against each other. e

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WAYLAND W. RICE. 

